Indra and ENAIRE validate the safe and effective integration of drone and manned aircraft flights throughout Europe

Indra has taken a key step towards the safe and effective integration of drone flights into the European airspace. In partnership with ENAIRE, the company has successfully validated the interoperability of unmanned air traffic management systems (U-space) and conventional air traffic control (ATM) in a technical and operational demonstration carried out at Málaga Airport, which is managed by Aena.

The validation demonstrated how they can co-exist in a safe and coordinated manner by managing their flights in a fully digital setting, thereby laying the groundwork for the progressive incorporation of new drone and unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) operations into the day-to-day environment. These include infrastructure inspection, surveillance, emergency management, monitoring, and delivery services, the development of which requires orderly and reliable integration into the airspace.

In this sense, the solutions and procedures developed within ENSURE project, have a direct application on drones’ operations in highly complex airspaces, such as the airport environment or urban areas near the airport, allowing the safe integration of these new airspace users with conventional aviation. This would allow for future drones’ maintenance and runway inspection to be carried out, sharing real-time information between U-space and ATM system, thereby reducing downtime whilst maintainingthe safety levels of conventional air traffic.

The demonstration included the presentation of the results of the operational validations carried out in Spain within the framework of the European ENSURE project, granted by the European Commission (Horizone Europe grants) and managed by SESAR 3 Joint Undertaking. It involved a specific trial of the ATM-U-space interface developed by Indra, which allows for the coordinated integration of individual drone operations in areas of higher operational risk through an ongoing exchange of information between the two environments, as well as dynamically adjusting the airspace according to the needs of each moment, ensuring that drones and aircraft do not interfere with each other and maintaining aviation safety standards

The validation exercises covered the entire operational cycle, from the flight planning to the real-time flight management, to this end a great deal of constant coordination between the drone operators involved and the airport’s air traffic control service has been required, while maintaining at all times the sector’sstringent safety standards and the priority of the airport operations.

Led by Indra, the project involves 18 European partners, including air navigation service providers, industry, research centers, and leading technological players. Against this backdrop, ENAIRE’s role will prove key as an air navigation service provider and designated single common information service provider in Spain, a core player in the operational implementation of U-space.

ENAIRE is developing and deploying one of the most advanced unmanned air traffic management (U-space) platforms throughout the country, with Indra as the technology provider, which are vital for the safe integration of drones into the airspace. This platform will facilitate the development of a completely new sector in Spain that will lead to new services, employment, and technological know-how.

UTM and ATM leadership

The validation conducted in Málaga is particularly significant within the context of the rapid growth of drone use in Europe, which is being driven by the demand for surveillance, maintenance, inspection, and transport services in multiple sectors. Unmanned traffic management (U-space) systems capable of identifying, coordinating, and managing drone access and mobility in a safe and effective manner are of utmost importance for the integration of this upturn into airspace operations.

In this regard, Indra Group has strengthened its standing as a major player in drone traffic management by recently acquiring GuardianUTM, the unmanned traffic management platform run by the British Altitude Angel firm. This operation will broaden its offer with a comprehensive portfolio of solutions.

This leadership is based on Indra’s far-reaching experience of air traffic management (ATM) systems. In global terms, the company has equipped over 11,000 facilities worldwide and it boasts one of the most comprehensive portfolios of new-generation solutions in the industry, one which is capable of managing a flight from its take-off to its arrival at its destination.